LA Police Gear Men’s Basic Operator Pant review

REVIEW – With all the gear Gadgeteers carry around, where do we carry it all? Some opt for bags, some for slings or belt clip-ons. And some of us just use pockets. (Sorry ladies, I know this is a sore point, but I’m not a clothing designer. I’m just reporting the news.) One of the groups of folks who carry many small essential bits of kit regularly is First Responders. Police, EMTs, and others of this ilk frequently wear a basic daily uniform called Tactical Pants. I discovered these about a decade ago, and have made them my go-to pants when I’m not in jeans. We were recently offered a pair of LA Police Gear Basic Operator Pants with Elastic Waistband (referred to hereafter as LAPD/BOP) to review. I got them hemmed and have worn them for a few weeks now and am ready to report.

What are they?

Heavy-duty pants for active wear with many specialized pockets, gussets for freedom of movement, and reinforced areas where severe wear-and-tear may be an issue.

Specs

Can accommodate typical 1.5″ and 1.75″ belts

Total of 8 Pockets

65% Polyester/35% Cotton Rip-Stop Fabric

Fabric Weight: 7.5 oz.

Fade Resistant Fabric

Gusseted Crotch

Elastic Band Waist

Large Cargo Pockets

One D-Ring Per Cargo Pocket

Double Knee Fabric

Airport Friendly, Heavy Duty Hardware

Double Seat

Dual Front Slit Pockets

Dual Front D-Rings

Slanted Cargo Pocket Flaps For Seated Access

YKK Zipper

Fly-Tac Button

Cargo pocket is big enough to fit an iPad Mini

Design and features

Maintaining a neat profile and toting around lots of small items is a trick, any way you do it. With the LAPD/BOP, you have the standard two side pockets and two rear pockets, as well as two cargo-type pockets on each outer thigh. All pockets except the side pockets have secured flaps, with hidden buttons/velcro for a cleaner look. The waistband has elastic on each side from about the first belt loop to the next-to-center belt loop in the back (about the even with the inside edge of the rear pocket). This allows for bending and twisting, which may be required while kneeling in a sniper pose, assisting with an accident victim, or crawling under a desk to troubleshoot a computer wiring problem.

By this time in the 21st century, everyone has had or at least seen a pair of cargo pants. There are many different styles and sizes of pockets, but Tactical Pants and Cargo pants are not exactly the same thing. The leg pockets on Tactical pants are gusseted in such a way as to hug the leg when they are not full, making them trimmer and less likely to snag things. Also, there are more specialized pockets, such as the dual welted pockets on the front of the LAPD/BOPs, which allow the wearer to carry two large phones (the one in these photos is an iPhone 11 Pro Max.), ammo magazines, or network shears. Two front D-rings allow for attachment of keys, access badges, or AirPods.

The LAPD/BOPs are made from a thin ripstop material that offers strength without adding the extreme insulation value of jeans or other traditional materials. The side pocket lips, crotch, and knees are covered by a second layer of fabric to protect from constant friction and wear. (See image above and below.) The side cargo/thigh pockets have a flap pass-through between the Velcro’s patches that allows you to carry long items (pens, reaching tools, or even rulers) in them without having to leave the pocket flap up. (See image below. That’s a foot-long steel ruler and an 8″ long penlight on a clip.)

The ability to have more awkward items – tools, a large drink bottle, or the museum headset – in a deep, secure pocket makes for an easier time. Whether you’re a new parent wanting quick access to that pack of wipes or a phone salesperson that needs an iPad mini to ring up sales, these pockets can offer you benefit.
The rear pockets also have buttoned flaps, with the buttons under a second flap layer. This creates a dressier look when buttoned, but also lets you leave them unbuttoned for easy access without the visual clue.

Performance

While I work in a store, I still like having things with me that would normally be in a desk drawer or backpack pocket. Tools for opening boxes, pens, SIM card poppers, flashlights for checking ports that may be damaged, various cables for testing – it can take up a lot of space! Tactical pants to the rescue!

When hiking or just walking around town, they also allow you to carry things like phone battery packs, tour books, maps, hotel room access cards, passports, language translators – anything you’d not want to place in a bag that can be snatched, but still want readily available.
The rear pockets I found a bit higher than I’m used to. My jeans pockets are 3+” below the bottom of the belt loop. The LAPD/BOP rear pockets are about an inch from this location, which means you have to reach up higher to access the rear pockets. Not bad, but when all your other pants are lower, it’s irritating.
When hemming my pants, my Lovely Bride noted that the sewing quality of these is not up to the level of other pants that I have. (She is a good one to judge. Not only does she sew much of her own wardrobe, and has since she was in high school, but her parents sewed commercially for many industries, so she gained a critical eye in this area early.) Again, it’s not a huge deal, but it gives you a certain insight into the attitude toward workmanship.

What I like

Bartacked seams at all main stress points

Low-profile bellows pockets on legs

Elastic waistband gives with movement

Multiple D-ring clips for gear

What I’d change

Loads of tiny threads in stitching, even after several washings

Plastic utility rings are bulkier than metal rings on other brands

I wish the back pockets were an inch or two lower, like they are on all my other pants.

Final thoughts

Tactical pants are a great way for Gadgeteers to carry many tiny items handsfree without having to worry about a bag, purse, or backpack. While I work in a store, I still like having things with me that would normally be in a desk drawer or backpack pocket. Tools for opening boxes, pens, SIM card poppers, flashlights for checking ports that may be damaged, various cables for testing – it can take up a lot of space! Tactical pants to the rescue!
When hiking or just walking around town, they also allow you to carry things like phone battery packs, tour books, maps, hotel room access cards, passports, language translators – anything you’d not want to place in a bag that can be snatched, but still want readily available.

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About The Author

A gadget nerd from childhood, Smythe has always been drawn to solving everyday problems with clever tools. An Apple fan since his Mac Plus in 1987, he's sure the company will one day do great things, despite being perpetually doomed by their competition.